Risky. Putting a lot of emphasis on renewing the High Streets in towns and cities.
But a good part of the decline is online shopping and deliveries. How can that be reversed?
Yes, that worries me. All the people who moan about the demise of High Street shopping are the same people who use Tesco online for food, Amazon for everything else, and Lakeside or similar for shopping days out. I'd be very happy to see the revival of the Hight Street, but it will take some pretty radical changes in incentives to achieve. Hope he does it.
Town centres as places to live is surely the way to go ? There's a housing shortage, and a crazy excess of empty (or occupied by criminals) retail space. The conclusion is obvious; it lacks only will, and investment.
Fewer than 500 lived in Manchester City Centre in 1990. There are now 85k residents within a mile of Piccadilly. It can be done.
Are you suggesting that planning be delegated to the IRA?
Who was it that first said that the IRA bombed Manchester city centre and caused £2bn of improvements?
The England captain should ideally satisfy the following criteria:
1) Always (For now) 1st pick if available
Excludes Gay Bashir
2) Sufficient test experience to not look ridiculous
Excludes Gay Bethell Atkinson Tongue Bashir
3) Not a walking medical textbook/long periods out through injury
Excludes Atkinson Tongue Archer Bashir
3) Not been caught on the lash/hi-jinks in the last few years
Excludes Stokes Brook Atkinson Duckett
4) Not announced retirement
Excludes Stokes
5) Tried as captain and broadly failed as a captain
Excludes Root
Add Jamie Smith to the sufficient test experience. Has he been subbed out for someone else recently though ? Maybe he is the one after Root if it's not to be Brook...
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
I'm a true northener, by residence. And the north ends somewhere around Basildon
Risky. Putting a lot of emphasis on renewing the High Streets in towns and cities.
But a good part of the decline is online shopping and deliveries. How can that be reversed?
Yes, that worries me. All the people who moan about the demise of High Street shopping are the same people who use Tesco online for food, Amazon for everything else, and Lakeside or similar for shopping days out. I'd be very happy to see the revival of the Hight Street, but it will take some pretty radical changes in incentives to achieve. Hope he does it.
Town centres as places to live is surely the way to go ? There's a housing shortage, and a crazy excess of empty (or occupied by criminals) retail space. The conclusion is obvious; it lacks only will, and investment.
Fewer than 500 lived in Manchester City Centre in 1990. There are now 85k residents within a mile of Piccadilly. It can be done.
Are you suggesting that planning be delegated to the IRA?
Who was it that first said that the IRA bombed Manchester city centre and caused £2bn of improvements?
It is worth noting that one of the reasons why California is still voting is because it allows the "curing" of postal votes where signatures do not match.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
That's very unfair. The Tees is more than 15 miles south of Gateshead.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
That's very unfair. The Tees is more than 15 miles south of Gateshead.
Dyor but I do like Pat McFadden. As a bet for next CoE, I mean.
Reason being I've tried to put myself in Andy's head and the fact is I wouldn't (for various reasons) appoint any of the 3 favs, Red Ed, Wes, or Mahmood.
It probably won't be Pat McFadden but he's the value imo. I'm on. Nibble plus top up.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
I'm a true northener, by residence. And the north ends somewhere around Basildon
Where’s the furthest North sign on the M1, A1 or M6, that says “THE NORTH” on it?
ISTR one on the M1 around Sheffield, but it’s been a while since I’ve been anywhere near there.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
That's very unfair. The Tees is more than 15 miles south of Gateshead.
FFS Draper out with a recurrence of the same injury to his arm .
Such a hugely talented player but sadly his body can’t cope .
He, and Raducanu, seem blighted by this. Whether either can get the right amount of training to reach their true level remains to be seen. Sad day for Wimbledon though.
Anyone here share my view that Japan are stonking good value at 9/2 in their upcoming match against Brazil?
They're a serious team and despite Brazil's performance against Scotland, the boys from Brazil look eminently beatable to me.
Maybe laying Brazil at 4/5 is the bet, as the longer it goes the more it is likely to favour Japan, and they certainly won't mind going into extra team.
Dyor, as ever, but I'm on.
Yes to Japan but since I also think Paraguay can beat Germany, I might be an unreliable judge.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
My wife is from near Portsmouth and thinks the north starts at the M4, if not a bit further south.
It's all just vaguely hopey change nonsense isn't it. This aspersion seems particularly unachievable - I'm currently buying a house in a postcode that contains the sum total of three houses and a Plymouth Brethren gospel hall. The odds of achieving "good growth*" in every single postcode like this seems low, even if the country is booming.
*what does good growth mean anyway? More wealth per sq ft? Higher average wages? Greater GDP? GPD at a postcode level is meaningless anyway, I create lots of value, but in a yard 20 miles away from my house...
The England captain should ideally satisfy the following criteria:
1) Always (For now) 1st pick if available
Excludes Gay Bashir
2) Sufficient test experience to not look ridiculous
Excludes Gay Bethell Atkinson Tongue Bashir
3) Not a walking medical textbook/long periods out through injury
Excludes Atkinson Tongue Archer Bashir
3) Not been caught on the lash/hi-jinks in the last few years
Excludes Stokes Brook Atkinson Duckett
4) Not announced retirement
Excludes Stokes
5) Tried as captain and broadly failed as a captain
Excludes Root
I match for 3-6, but I will be a surprise announcement. Will lead to similar sledging to that received by James Ormond in 2001.
Looking at Pulpstar's lists you almost wonder whether it's worth picking a captain from the County Championship on the basis of their captaincy credentials.
I wouldn't want to give it to Brook (because he's the white ball captain, and I'm not sure he's even doing that well with that alone).
I wouldn't want to give it to Root, because his previous tenure reached a disastrous low.
Who else is guaranteed a place in the team anyway?
I suppose whoever does choose the captain will have the advantage of knowing these people personally, and so they will have a sense as to whether Duckett or Smith or whoever have leadership ability.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
My wife is from near Portsmouth and thinks the north starts at the M4, if not a bit further south.
Everything's relative.
There's a map someone made with the 2021 census dates that put Cambridgeshire and Worcestershire in the north, on the basis of an equal split between North and South in population terms.
I can't remember if there was a version split into thirds, with a Midlands too.
Here's the north-south map.
Map Men (YouTube link) did a good episode on this...
Interesting table showing comparative wages per decile since 2000. There’s a huge compression, which I would suggest is due to above-inflation minimum wage increases.
The England captain should ideally satisfy the following criteria:
1) Always (For now) 1st pick if available
Excludes Gay Bashir
2) Sufficient test experience to not look ridiculous
Excludes Gay Bethell Atkinson Tongue Bashir
3) Not a walking medical textbook/long periods out through injury
Excludes Atkinson Tongue Archer Bashir
3) Not been caught on the lash/hi-jinks in the last few years
Excludes Stokes Brook Atkinson Duckett
4) Not announced retirement
Excludes Stokes
5) Tried as captain and broadly failed as a captain
Excludes Root
I match for 3-6, but I will be a surprise announcement. Will lead to similar sledging to that received by James Ormond in 2001.
Looking at Pulpstar's lists you almost wonder whether it's worth picking a captain from the County Championship on the basis of their captaincy credentials.
I wouldn't want to give it to Brook (because he's the white ball captain, and I'm not sure he's even doing that well with that alone).
I wouldn't want to give it to Root, because his previous tenure reached a disastrous low.
Who else is guaranteed a place in the team anyway?
I suppose whoever does choose the captain will have the advantage of knowing these people personally, and so they will have a sense as to whether Duckett or Smith or whoever have leadership ability.
I sense it will be Brook, although I wouldn't be averse to Joe Root mk 2 for a year and see. And I don't know how much Duckett has captained before. At the moment I think Duckett, Root, Brook are safe in the batting line-up. Big questions over Bethel (thorny issue of not enough red-ball cricket again), Smith (balance between winning the match with a brilliant knock and losing it with a dropped catch). Gay looks promising. One thing I would do more of - Root as the spinning all rounder on usual pitches (so most English ones). No other spinners are pulling up trees in the championship (they don't really get a chance with the way its structured) and Root is good when required. You don't take 73 test wickets by luck.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
I'm a true northener, by residence. And the north ends somewhere around Basildon
Where’s the furthest North sign on the M1, A1 or M6, that says “THE NORTH” on it?
ISTR one on the M1 around Sheffield, but it’s been a while since I’ve been anywhere near there.
Scotch Corner - because it's the last point where you can sanely go West for about the next 70 miles.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
I'm a true northener, by residence. And the north ends somewhere around Basildon
Where’s the furthest North sign on the M1, A1 or M6, that says “THE NORTH” on it?
ISTR one on the M1 around Sheffield, but it’s been a while since I’ve been anywhere near there.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
My wife is from near Portsmouth and thinks the north starts at the M4, if not a bit further south.
Everything's relative.
There's a map someone made with the 2021 census dates that put Cambridgeshire and Worcestershire in the north, on the basis of an equal split between North and South in population terms.
I can't remember if there was a version split into thirds, with a Midlands too.
Here's the north-south map.
Map Men (YouTube link) did a good episode on this...
It is quite possible therefore that the Tories and Reform combined win a majority of seats in England at the next general election, even if Burnham wins the north comfortably. Yet Burnham and Labour narrowly remain in power UK wide thanks to Scottish and Welsh Labour, SNP and PC seats. Last time we had a different winner in the UK from England was Feb 1974 when southern Heath faced northern Wilson, next election will now be northern Burnham v southern Farage and Badenoch
Anyone here share my view that Japan are stonking good value at 9/2 in their upcoming match against Brazil?
They're a serious team and despite Brazil's performance against Scotland, the boys from Brazil look eminently beatable to me.
Maybe laying Brazil at 4/5 is the bet, as the longer it goes the more it is likely to favour Japan, and they certainly won't mind going into extra team.
Dyor, as ever, but I'm on.
Yes to Japan but since I also think Paraguay can beat Germany, I might be an unreliable judge.
Not long back from rural Derbyshire - is it "the north" ? I'm not getting involved with that nonsense.
As an aside, a nice ride on one of the new Aurora trains on EMR - a significant step forward from the Meridians but as usual, five coach trains on a ,line which really needs eight to ten coaches per service isn't really the answer.
I don't know why (well, I do) Conservatives are so hostile to Burnham's ideas. It is a significant nod to the kind of devolution proposed by Nick Hurd in the Cameron years and pays more than lip service to some of Boris Johnson's rhetoric from 2019. It also borrows heavily from the Liberal Democrat devolution playbook.
Decentraliation or devolution (there is a difference) relies, to be effective, on financial authority (not just responsibility) and accountability passing from Whitehall/Westminster to more local power structures.
What do the Conservatives offer in response? More centralisation, more power to Whitehall - that's where Boris Johnson ended up for all his rhetoric, taking powers and responsibilities (often newly liberated from Brussels) from Westminster and Parliament to Whitehall and Ministers.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
I'm a true northener, by residence. And the north ends somewhere around Basildon
Where’s the furthest North sign on the M1, A1 or M6, that says “THE NORTH” on it?
ISTR one on the M1 around Sheffield, but it’s been a while since I’ve been anywhere near there.
(((Dan Hodges))) @DPJHodges · 14m Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.
I’m certainly happy with what I heard. Snippets only I’ve been out for a bike ride earlier.
Like all,here, I wish him well and hope he succeeds. I’ve said I won’t vote Labour again after the Starmer disaster. I’ve even said I’d consider Reform. However if he does succeed in, at least turning it around, and does start doing stuff that genuinely helps the regions I’d consider labour again
However Burnham needs to realise the North is not JUST Manchester.
Is Manchester really the North? Same with Yorkshire. Growing up in Scotland and Tyneside I've always struggled to think of places you can drive to from London in time for breakfast as the "North"...
You can tell a true northerner: he believes that the north ends 15 miles south of where he was born.
I'm a true northener, by residence. And the north ends somewhere around Basildon
Where’s the furthest North sign on the M1, A1 or M6, that says “THE NORTH” on it?
ISTR one on the M1 around Sheffield, but it’s been a while since I’ve been anywhere near there.
Scotch Corner - because it's the last point where you can sanely go West for about the next 70 miles.
Bedford Town play in National League North. Hemel Hempstead play in National League South, so I guess the North starts around Luton.
Anyone here share my view that Japan are stonking good value at 9/2 in their upcoming match against Brazil?
They're a serious team and despite Brazil's performance against Scotland, the boys from Brazil look eminently beatable to me.
Maybe laying Brazil at 4/5 is the bet, as the longer it goes the more it is likely to favour Japan, and they certainly won't mind going into extra team.
Dyor, as ever, but I'm on.
Yes to Japan but since I also think Paraguay can beat Germany, I might be an unreliable judge.
Go on...do the double.
You know you want to!
My only caution would be go with 'too qualify' bets rather than 90 minute bets...
'Andy Burnham's net favourability rating has returned to -11, having briefly ticked up to -4 after the Makerfield by-election victory
The 43% of Britons with an unfavourable view of Burnham is the highest level to date (32% are favourable)'
59% of Labour 2024 voters have a favourable view of Burnham, as do 45% of Green voters and 40% of LDs. 78% of Reform and 67% of Tory voters though have an unfavourable view of Burnham now
Comments
1) Always (For now) 1st pick if available
Excludes
Gay
Bashir
2) Sufficient test experience to not look ridiculous
Excludes
Gay
Bethell
Atkinson
Tongue
Bashir
3) Not a walking medical textbook/long periods out through injury
Excludes
Atkinson
Tongue
Archer
Bashir
3) Not been caught on the lash/hi-jinks in the last few years
Excludes
Stokes
Brook
Atkinson
Duckett
4) Not announced retirement
Excludes
Stokes
5) Tried as captain and broadly failed as a captain
Excludes
Root
1) Always (For now) 1st pick if available
Excludes
Gay
Bashir
2) Sufficient test experience to not look ridiculous
Excludes
Gay
Bethell
Atkinson
Tongue
Bashir
3) Not a walking medical textbook/long periods out through injury
Excludes
Atkinson
Tongue
Archer
Bashir
3) Not been caught on the lash/hi-jinks in the last few years
Excludes
Stokes
Brook
Atkinson
Duckett
4) Not announced retirement
Excludes
Stokes
5) Tried as captain and broadly failed as a captain
Excludes
Root
Such a hugely talented player but sadly his body can’t cope .
Barnard Castle: Gateway to The South.
Reason being I've tried to put myself in Andy's head and the fact is I wouldn't (for various reasons) appoint any of the 3 favs, Red Ed, Wes, or Mahmood.
It probably won't be Pat McFadden but he's the value imo. I'm on. Nibble plus top up.
ISTR one on the M1 around Sheffield, but it’s been a while since I’ve been anywhere near there.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g38l07895o
This aspersion seems particularly unachievable - I'm currently buying a house in a postcode that contains the sum total of three houses and a Plymouth Brethren gospel hall.
The odds of achieving "good growth*" in every single postcode like this seems low, even if the country is booming.
*what does good growth mean anyway? More wealth per sq ft? Higher average wages? Greater GDP? GPD at a postcode level is meaningless anyway, I create lots of value, but in a yard 20 miles away from my house...
I wouldn't want to give it to Brook (because he's the white ball captain, and I'm not sure he's even doing that well with that alone).
I wouldn't want to give it to Root, because his previous tenure reached a disastrous low.
Who else is guaranteed a place in the team anyway?
I suppose whoever does choose the captain will have the advantage of knowing these people personally, and so they will have a sense as to whether Duckett or Smith or whoever have leadership ability.
https://x.com/maxtempers/status/2071513160905818265
One thing I would do more of - Root as the spinning all rounder on usual pitches (so most English ones). No other spinners are pulling up trees in the championship (they don't really get a chance with the way its structured) and Root is good when required. You don't take 73 test wickets by luck.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.4365351,-1.668449,3a,37.6y,342.9h,93.25t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s-7Kpn0JymD8nXEmmuPi64w!2e0!6shttps://streetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com/v1/thumbnail?cb_client=maps_sv.tactile&w=900&h=600&pitch=-3.247328384961392&panoid=-7Kpn0JymD8nXEmmuPi64w&yaw=342.90359700157404!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDYyNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw==
You know you want to!
Not long back from rural Derbyshire - is it "the north" ? I'm not getting involved with that nonsense.
As an aside, a nice ride on one of the new Aurora trains on EMR - a significant step forward from the Meridians but as usual, five coach trains on a ,line which really needs eight to ten coaches per service isn't really the answer.
I don't know why (well, I do) Conservatives are so hostile to Burnham's ideas. It is a significant nod to the kind of devolution proposed by Nick Hurd in the Cameron years and pays more than lip service to some of Boris Johnson's rhetoric from 2019. It also borrows heavily from the Liberal Democrat devolution playbook.
Decentraliation or devolution (there is a difference) relies, to be effective, on financial authority (not just responsibility) and accountability passing from Whitehall/Westminster to more local power structures.
What do the Conservatives offer in response? More centralisation, more power to Whitehall - that's where Boris Johnson ended up for all his rhetoric, taking powers and responsibilities (often newly liberated from Brussels) from Westminster and Parliament to Whitehall and Ministers.
When I drive over the bridge at Gunthorpe, that's the border....
https://x.com/MostlyMonkey/status/2071381238175137841
The 43% of Britons with an unfavourable view of Burnham is the highest level to date (32% are favourable)'
59% of Labour 2024 voters have a favourable view of Burnham, as do 45% of Green voters and 40% of LDs. 78% of Reform and 67% of Tory voters though have an unfavourable view of Burnham now
https://x.com/YouGov/status/2071555259948732822?s=20
https://yougov.com/en-gb/articles/55061-views-of-andy-burnhams-character-have-become-more-negative-since-may